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International Relations and American Studies with a Year Abroad at Swansea University - UCAS

Swansea University

Degree level: Undergraduate

International Relations and American Studies with a Year Abroad

Course summary

Studying American Studies and International Relations gives you the chance to explore the culture, history and politics of the most influential country in the world, alongside many aspects of global and regional economics and politics. This four-year BA American Studies and International Relations degree with a year abroad, opens up a range of exciting career possibilities by giving students transferable skills, which are highly valued by employers. American Studies at Swansea is ranked: • 1st in the UK for Graduate Prospecs (Times Good University Guide 2024) • 5th in the UK for Teaching Quality (Times Good University Guide 2024) • 8th in the UK for Student Experience (Times Good University Guide 2024) Swansea University is one of a limited number of institutions selected to partner with the UK Parliament to deliver an innovative Parliamentary Studies module. The module is taught by specialist academic staff and includes a series of sessions with experts and members of staff currently working in the UK Parliament. The module features a day long visit to Westminister including talks with Senior Members of Parliament. They gain employment in a range of sectors including education, marketing, government, research and events management, working for prestigious organisations such as the Labour Party and PriceWaterhouseCoopers. You will be able to explore the history, literature, politics and culture, of the United States from the period of colonization to the presidency of Donald Trump, as well as a range of International Relations topics from globalization and global institutions to human rights and political economy. You will spend the third year studying in an American university, further improving your student experience and career prospects, and you will have the competitive option of undertaking a work placement module with the Senedd Cymru/ Welsh Parliament, working closely with Ministers for one day a week for one Semester in your Final Year. Teaching on the course is informed by our world-leading research and you can attend seminars organised through our guest speaker programme. Visiting American professors also offer modules as part of the degree, and with more than 150 American students studying at Swansea each year, you have access to a ready-made network of contacts with links stretching across the USA.

Modules

We offer varied and flexible course content, so you can shape your International Relations and American Studies degree to your own interests. Your first year of your undergraduate International relations and American Studies with a Year Abroad BA (Hons) will introduce you to the history, politics, culture and literature of America, as well as international relations and politics. The majority of first year modules will be compulsory, examples of recent compulsory modules include:

  • Introduction to International Relations
  • War and Peace in the Nuclear Age
  • American Politics and Society
  • The American Experience 1492-2000
Your second year of degree studies will include a mixture of compulsory and optional modules covering a broad range of themes. Examples of optional modules covered in recent years include:
  • Global Justice and Human Rights
  • Contemporary Moral Controversies
  • America in Crisis: Political Culture and Society from the Tet Offensive to Trump
  • Race and Ethnicity: American Perspectives
You will have the opportunity to spend a year abroad between your second and final year, broadening your skills and experiencing different cultures. Our partner institutions span the globe, with opportunities varying each year In your final year you will complete an independent dissertation project or you have the competitive option of undertaking a work placement module with the Senedd Cymru/ Welsh Parliament. You will also complete You will also complete a compulsory group work project plus optional modules chosen from a wide variety of subject areas. Examples of optional modules from recent years include:
  • Politics and International Development
  • Shadow Wars: US Presidents and covert action from the Cold War to Trump
  • The Story of the USA on Film and Television, 1865–2008
  • The Aftermaths of War
For the full programme structure and module breakdown, please visit our webpage at https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/social-sciences/politics-philosophy-international-relations/ba-international-relations-american-studies-year-abroad/ or get in touch with us at [email protected]

Assessment method

Throughout your undergraduate International Relations and American Studies with a Year Abroad BA (Hons) degree, you will develop excellent research and analytical skills and learn to present your ideas effectively both verbally and in writing. We offer a variety of assessment methods within our programmes. In addition to traditional examinations and essays, examples of alternative assessment include: • Reading diary • Literature/ article review • Case study • Critical review For a full breakdown of course structure and assessment please visit our course page https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/social-sciences/politics-philosophy-international-relations/ba-international-relations-american-studies-year-abroad/ or get in touch with us at [email protected]


How to apply

Application codes

Course code:
LT2R
Institution code:
S93
Campus name:
Singleton Park Campus
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

If you are an international applicant please visit our international pages for more information and details on how to apply: http://www.swansea.ac.uk/international/

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements


English language requirements

For applicants whose first language is not English we require a minimum overall IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent) and no less than 5.5 in each component.

English Language Requirements at Swansea University

https://www.swansea.ac.uk/admissions/english-language-requirements/


Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
60%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
85%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

For the latest fee information, please check the individual course page on our website. Our full range of programmes are listed here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/ Further information on tuition fees can be found here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees-and-funding/tuition-fees/
International Relations and American Studies with a Year Abroad at Swansea University - UCAS